The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-01-27
A MOTHERS VISION.


ooh, dear" said tidy Mrs. Jcwctt,
'thcrc's Willie in the rarlor again with
his muddy boots, and Jennie has finger
ed the woodwork of the piano all over,
l sec, that polished so nicely only
yesterday. know the door of the spare
room has been left open, too, for the
muslin curtains are pulled all away,
where pussy must have frolickcd in the
folds; and, dear, dear, there's Jack this
minute with his feet in that stuff ID
airw
iL"Comc, come, mother, l wouldn't
fret" said easy Mr.. Jcwctt: 'thc
children must put their feet somewhere.
and l suppose kittens will be kittens and
fly about where they can find the most
fun"
ooh, yes" rcjoined Mrs. J.wett,
dts very easy for you father,
to think children and cats can 90
where they like and do what they
please. I'm not frctting, but it's hard
work to sweep and polish, and do
clear starching; and men never did
know and never will know anything
about the work of hou'ckcspcr and a
mother"
So saying, Mrs. Jcwett, with her far,
pretty face all in wrinkles, went out Of
the room with a worried:
ooh, dcarw
And her husband looked after her
with compassionate:
"Poor motherw
Naturally Mrs. Jewctt WAS of happy
disposition, but like many another fond,
faithful mother, she was unconsciously
falling into the habit of worrying over
the inevitable faults and thoughtlcssncs
Of her children.
She was scrupulousy neat house
keeper, and as her things had not come
as easily as they do to many Others, they
acquired all the more value and impor
tancc in her eyes, onco they came into
her possession.
But the usual rcstlcssness of boys and
gir:s, and even poor capcring kitty herself,
WAS fast developing into Mrs. Jcwctt
that irritating fretfu!ncss and impatcncc
which kills tue happiness and comfort
in many home, and where the mlthcr's )
real object is TO make all as comfortable
and Larpy as possible.
In vain Mr.. Jewctt hinted that things
were always going wrong, somehow, and
that there was no end of peevishncss and
fault finding taking root in his family.
At such times Mrs. Jewctt would shed
tears and declare no one could do moro
than spend all their time and energies
for The welfare Of their family, as she
did.
One morning the curtains were discov-
cred to have been rolled up all to ono
side, while the summer sunshine was
flooding, with lis wholesome light, tho
bright pattern of the new Brussels car
pct. Jennie and Carrie had left theil
school books scattered around on the
chairs, and Jacks muddy boots stood in
the middle of the floor.
Mrs. Jewett burst into TRADE of dis
pleasure, but the children were out ol
hearing, so instead of judiciously and
patiently calling them in and obligine
them to put things in their places, she
began putting things to rights herself
allowing Mr.. Jewett, as frequently hap
pened, to bear the brunt Of her disp!cas
ure, and for once his good nature gave
way, and he said, pcttshly:
II declare, wife, it is thousand pit
les there arc any children here to botbe
you So"
Mrs. Jewett made no reply, but goin!
to her room she sat down for momcn
to consider whether or not her HUSBAND
meant what he had just said.
But by degrees the room faded from he
vision, the house became quict--terribl
quiet-thc sunlight died out, and shad
and stiffness reigned supreme.
There were footsteps heard, bu
hushed, creeping, awed.
All of active life had ceased even tn
kitty had taken herself off, and was Nc
where to be seen,
Mrs. Jewett reused herself, and wen
from kitchen to dining fror
dining-room to parlor Tho invariabl
order was oppressive.
The curtains were rolled with cxac
cvenness; not the finest line of suuligh
could pierce through crack or crevic
of the nicely adjusted shutters.
Every book was in its place; tn
chairs rs guiltless OF dust as if jus
= cleaned, and the unblurred polish OF til
piano reflected each undisturbed orna
ment and object in its vicinity.
But the children. Oh, the childrcnl
A great appalling throb of apprehcr
sion and whitening pain shot unrc
pressed through the mothers heart ,
the mention O. their name.
Where was winsomc--no lonSt
| ,nischiaynus l,,,t yyinsome- w .llie7
Where pray, were sportive Carrie al
lively J-nuie9 Where, too, bounding, lo'
ing little Jackl "Yes," she said, vaguel
peering about in the sunless gloon